Caitriona Balfe has gone from being a catwalk queen to a top actress and, as the star of Outlander, has received some unusual gifts.

The 35-year-old was nominated for Best Actress in a Drama at the IFTA awards on Sunday night and says she's delighted at how successful the show has become but it has led to some bizarre reactions from fans.

"I get a lot of strange gifts. I got some cake mix recently - I don't know what that was about but that was one of the weirdest ones," she told the Herald.

rebelling

In the show, Balfe plays Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who, after an encounter with some mysterious ruins, is transported back to 1743, a time when some Scots were rebelling against English rule.

She has to hide her identity in case the locals think she is a witch and so she disguises herself as an Englishwoman who has spent time abroad.

Claire is attracted to a sexy Highlander named Jamie Fraser although she is still married to Frank in her own time.

"I love the show and the fact that it's getting recognised and my work is getting recognised is really incredible," Caitriona said.

"I didn't know about the book series before I got the job but in America the books were quite popular but it's funny to see how it's started to pick up in the rest of the world and in Ireland and places like that.

"It was a bit of a surprise but we all get along so well and there's such a good feeling on set and when you're loving what you do you're hoping that will translate and that people will enjoy the show so it's good that they are," she added.

Caitriona was an international model for years, appearing on catwalks for Victoria's Secret and Dolce and Gabanna but says she's "relieved" those days are behind her.

"Even though I had an incredible time, and I got to travel the world, it just wasn't what I wanted to do," she admitted. "After a while, that gets really old."

While she's no longer modelling, she doesn't mind snaps of her in lingerie appearing on the internet now that she's a recognisable actor.

"I am a product of every experience I've had up to this point, and I'm sure I was damn glad for those two days of work at the time," she said.

"It gives my friends something great to slag me off about.

"For their amusement alone, it was worth it," she added.

wrapped

Meanwhile, she has just wrapped filming on a new movie which stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts and is back in Scotland filming season two of Outlander.

"I just wrapped on Money Monster which we shot in New York," she said.

"I play the CEO of an investment bank. You see her coming to terms with, 'Okay, this is what I'm telling the public, but what's really going on?'

"So many people are just trying to do a good job every day, and they don't realise the repercussions of what they do for a living," she added.